Unit : Using Windows 7 Lesson 9 Lesson 9 Looking at the Windows Desktop Objectives In this lesson, you will be introduced to the Windows desktop and how to navigate around in Windows. On successful completion, you will be familiar with: how to start and exit Windows what the Windows desktop is how to use the Start button Skills -3.. Shut down, restart, log on and log off the computer -3.. Identify elements of the operating system desktop.3..3 Manipulate windows.3..4 Start and run programs how to use the taskbar how to manipulate windows Looking at the Windows Desktop -3.. -3.. -3..3-3..4 Once Windows loads, the desktop will look similar to the following screen. You will notice several objects or icons on the desktop that will vary from one system to another depending on how the system was set up. 4 5 3 6 Desktop Icons 3 Desktop 5 Taskbar Mouse Pointer 4 Start Button 6 Notification Area 8- v.00 00 CCI Learning Solutions Inc. 55
Lesson 9 Looking at the Windows Desktop Desktop Icons Mouse Pointer Desktop Start Button Taskbar Taskbar Notification Area These are shortcuts you can select to open frequently used programs, folders, or files. The arrow that follows the same movement when you move the mouse. Use this arrow to identify which option you want to select or activate. This is the work area or screen on which windows, icons, menus, dialog boxes, and the Sidebar appear. You can customize the appearance of the desktop using features such as wallpaper, themes, pictures, or solid colors, and you can create shortcuts that will take you directly to frequently used folders, files, programs, or Web pages. This is used to start programs, open documents, find items on your computer, and get help, as well as log off and shut down your computer. The taskbar is where the Start button, taskbar notification area, and additional buttons for software programs may appear, depending on what has been set up. As you open a program or file, a button will appear here for each open item. The taskbar is an integral part of Windows multitasking features. Small icons in this area, sometimes called the System Tray, indicate program status, or provide another shortcut to open programs. Using the Start Button The Start button is the primary means of starting programs, finding files, accessing online help, logging off the network, switching between users, or shutting down the computer. You can use the mouse or the keyboard to navigate through the Start menu. To activate the Start button, you can: Click the Start button, or press, or press +. 3 4 Pinned Program Area Recently Used Programs (dynamic items that change automatically based on programs used most frequently) Useful System Folders Recently Installed Program 5 Search Box A (triangle) with a command indicates that a submenu will display when you select this item. For example, when you point at the All Programs command, Windows displays a list of all programs available on your system. To return to the main Start menu, click the Back command. Items with a (folder) icon indicate there is another submenu with options for selection. These are listed alphabetically; you can use the vertical scroll bar to move up or down the list. 3 5 4 56 8- v.00 00 CCI Learning Solutions Inc.
Unit : Using Windows 7 Lesson 9 Items can be selected from the Start menu using the mouse or keyboard. If using the mouse, click the Start button once. Then click the appropriate command to display another menu or activate that command. If using the keyboard, press the key to display the Start menu. Then press the key to move to the first command in the list, use the arrow directional keys to navigate to the required command, and when it is highlighted, press to activate it. Exiting the Computer Properly From a security perspective, it is extremely important to save your files, close the programs, and log off the computer when you finish working to prevent unauthorized access to your files and, more importantly, to your company s network. Alternatively, you can shut down the computer completely using the Shut down button to prevent others from using it. Never turn off your computer without closing your files and open software programs in the correct manner; this will protect the software and data files from being corrupted or lost. Shut down Shut down options Switch user Log off Lock Restart Sleep Hibernate Click the to display several options including: Switches to another user account without logging out of the current account. Closes all open items, logs out of the current user account, and returns to the log on screen. Hides the desktop behind a log on screen. Closes all open items and restarts the computer; also called a reboot or warm boot. Puts the computer in a state where it consumes less power without losing your place on the screen; the computer does not shut down in this mode. If you are using a desktop computer, the Sleep command appears as Standby. Available only on notebooks, this saves what is on the desktop and then shuts down the computer completely so it consumes no power. When you restart the computer and log on, the desktop returns to where you left it. Always allow Windows to complete the Shut down or Restart process properly. Reactivating the computer before Windows has completed these processes may cause files to be corrupted and result in a message, the next time you turn on the computer, indicating the machine was not shut down properly. Depending on the Power Options scheme and configuration, your computer may be able to go into Sleep or Standby mode, where the monitor or hard disk turns off after a set interval of time. If a power failure occurs while the computer is in this state, you will lose any unsaved information, so be sure to save your work every time you leave the computer, even if you will not be gone for long. To turn off Standby and return to normal mode, simply move the mouse or press a key on the keyboard. Standby is generally used when you want to leave your computer on but will not be using it for a length of time; for example, you are working on some letters and need to attend a staff meeting but don t want to lose your place in your work. Hibernation is generally only used on notebooks because the need to close the notebook and take it somewhere else is not compatible with Standby mode. Restarting the Computer You may sometimes find that the computer does not respond to a request. When this happens, you need to reboot or restart using the Task Manager. 8- v.00 00 CCI Learning Solutions Inc. 57
Lesson 9 Looking at the Windows Desktop To display the Task Manager, use one of the following methods: Press the + + key combination to display a screen with options to lock the computer, switch user, log off, change the password, or start the Task Manager. Click Start Task Manager. Right-click the taskbar and then click Start Task Manager. Note: Do not end any processes unless you are very familiar with the service, subsystem or executable program that you want to terminate. If you end a system service, it may cause some part of the operating system to malfunction. You can use the Task Manager to switch programs, start a program, check which programs are running and their status, or safely close a program when problems are occurring, such as it is no longer responding. The Task Manager is an advanced application; the other tabs in this feature should only be used by an experienced user or network administrator. If the Task Manager does not respond or close down the applications appropriately, you will need to press the + + key combination again to restart the computer. If you can activate the Start menu, you can also use the Restart option from the Shut down command. Exercise Click the Start button, and then click the Shut down options button. Click Switch user. Windows now displays a screen with an icon with your login name and another one called Other User. Depending on how the users are set up by the administrator, you may also need to press + + before you can view this screen. 3 Click your account, and then log on with your password. 4 Click the Start button, and then click Shut down. 5 Allow the computer to shut down completely, pause a few seconds and then turn it back on. Log on with your user account and password. You will now start a program and then, for demonstration purposes, use the Task Manager to end it. 6 Click Start, All Programs, Accessories, and then WordPad. 7 Right-click a blank area of the taskbar and select Start Task Manager. 8 Ensure the Applications tab is active. 9 In Windows Task Manager, click Document - WordPad and then End Task. This closes the WordPad program. 0 Close the Task Manager. 58 8- v.00 00 CCI Learning Solutions Inc.
Unit : Using Windows 7 Lesson 9 Using the Taskbar -3.. By default, the taskbar is at the bottom of the Windows desktop. It includes the Start button, a notification area, the clock, and a taskbar button for each open program. By default, Windows automatically installs some commonly-used programs in the taskbar for easy access, e.g. Windows Explorer. The notification area displays the time and provides quick access to items such as the volume control or an antivirus program. It can also show shortcuts with information about the status of activities. You can choose which icons to show or hide. You can move the taskbar or change the way it displays as follows: Point the mouse pointer over a blank area of the taskbar and drag it to any side of the screen. To prevent changes to the taskbar, right-click any blank area of the taskbar and ensure Lock the taskbar is active. To customize the properties for the taskbar, right-click the area you want to customize or right-click the Start button, and then click Properties. Start Button Taskbar Buttons 3 Notification Area 4 Show desktop 3 4 To quickly show the desktop, click the Show Desktop button at the far right of the Task Notification area. You can also quickly redisplay the program you were using last by clicking Show Desktop once more. To see other programs that may be running automatically in the Task Notification area, click the at the front of this area. As you start programs, a button appears in the taskbar as a visual clue that this program is running. As you open files within that program, a preview window appears for each file when you point at the program button on the taskbar. Exercise Right-click the time in the notification area. Select Properties from the shortcut menu. Scroll through the list of items to see what you can adjust, and then click Cancel. 3 Right-click the time in the notification area and review the items on the shortcut menu. 4 Click Start Task Manager. You should have no programs running at the moment. 5 Click the Close button to close the Task Manager. 6 Click the in the notification area to view what other programs may be active. Now try using the taskbar. 8- v.00 00 CCI Learning Solutions Inc. 59
Lesson 9 Looking at the Windows Desktop 7 Click the Internet Explorer button. 8 Point at this button in the taskbar to see what appears. Windows displays a small window of the web page you currently have displayed on the screen. Notice also that the button now has a border around it to indicate this program is active. 9 Click the folder button to the right of Internet Explorer. This button represents Windows Explorer, the file management tool for Windows (covered later in this Unit). 0 Point at the Internet Explorer button. Notice how the Web browser is still active even though you started another program from the taskbar. With the Web page window displayed, click the Close button in the window to close this page without having to view the full page in Internet Explorer. Click the Close button for Windows Explorer to close this program. Looking at a Typical Window -3.. -3..3 When programs or folders are opened, they appear on the desktop in individual windows. You can have multiple windows displayed on the screen, but each window will share similar features. Back/Forward Navigation Buttons Title Bar 3 4 7 3 4 Address Bar Command Bar 5 Search Box 6 Control Buttons 8 8 Favorite Links Contents Pane 5 6 9 0 Navigation Pane Details Pane 7 9 0 60 8- v.00 00 CCI Learning Solutions Inc.
Unit : Using Windows 7 Lesson 9 Back and Forward Buttons Title Bar Command Bar Address Bar Search Box Control Buttons Favorite Links Navigation Pane Contents Pane Details Pane Exercise Allow you to navigate back or forward to display different views of files and folders. Displays the name of the currently active feature or application program. (In this example, the name for this window appears in the Address Bar, showing you the contents of the computer at this location). Provides commands you can use to organize, view, or protect your data. Facilitates quick and easy navigation. Also known as the eyebrow menu or breadcrumb trail, this feature allows you to click the name of any folder visible in the trail so that you can go to that folder, or click the arrow that appears next to any item and see other items at the same level in the folder hierarchy. Provides an area into which you can enter criteria to search for a file or folder. Change the way currently open windows are displayed, as follows: (Minimize) Temporarily closes the window, replacing it as a button on the taskbar. Click the button on the taskbar to open or restore the window. (Maximize) Displays the window full screen. (Restore Down) Restores the window to the size it was before it was maximized. (Close) Closes the window. (If you see a box that only displays a (Close) or (Help) button, you are seeing a feature window, with a message about what you must do before the computer will allow you to do anything else.) Displays folders or locations you use often as links that will take you directly to them. Displays folders and drives that you can double-click in order to see their contents. Displays the contents of the folder or drive selected in the Navigation Pane. Displays properties or details about the selected file or folder in the Contents pane. Click Start, and then click Computer. Click the (Maximize) button at the top right corner of the window. 3 Click the (Minimize) button. Notice that the window seems to have disappeared but it actually was moved to the taskbar. 4 Click the Computer button on the taskbar to redisplay the window. The window is now maximized, occupying the entire screen, and the 5 Click the (Restore Down) button. 6 Click the (Close) button. (Restore Down) button appears. The Computer window is now closed from the screen. 8- v.00 00 CCI Learning Solutions Inc. 6
Lesson 9 Looking at the Windows Desktop Moving a Window You can move a window anywhere on the desktop using the mouse or keyboard. Point the mouse pointer anywhere on the title bar and then drag the window to a new location. With the keyboard, press + to activate the control icon; it is not visible on the screen but the menu appears once it s activated. Press the key to select the Move command and press. Using the arrow direction keys, move the window to the new location and then press to exit the action. You can only move a window that is not full screen. Maximized windows cannot be moved as they occupy the entire screen. Sizing a Window On occasion you may want to change the size of the window so that you can see more or less of multiple windows. You can use the mouse or the keyboard to size a window. Position the mouse pointer anywhere on the border (side) to be sized. When you see the mouse cursor change to a (vertical double-headed arrow) for the top or bottom border, or (horizontal double-headed arrow) for the left or right border, drag the mouse to the desired size. To size the vertical and horizontal sides at the same time, position the mouse cursor on any corner of the window, and then drag to the desired size for the window when you see or (diagonal double-headed arrow). Some windows are set to a specific size and cannot be altered. With the keyboard, press + to activate the control icon; it is not visible on the screen but the menu appears once it s activated. Press the key to select the Size command and press. Using the appropriate arrow direction key for the side you want to size, press that direction key until the window is the size you want, and then press to exit the action. You will need to repeat this action for every side to be sized. Using Scroll Bars If a window is too small to display all the contents, scroll bars will automatically appear vertically on the right side of a window, or horizontally at the bottom. A scroll bar consists of three parts: an arrow button at each end of the scroll bar, a scroll box, and the scroll area. The scroll box is also called a thumb or an elevator. The position of the scroll box within the scroll area provides an approximate gauge of where the information currently displayed in the window is in relation to the entire window s contents. Scroll Box Use one of the following methods to move around with the scroll bars: Click in the lighter shaded area above or below the scroll box to display the previous or subsequent screen of information. Click the arrow at either end of the vertical scroll bar once to display a line of information in that direction. Click the arrow at either end of the horizontal scroll bar once to display a column of information in that direction. Click and hold down the mouse button on the arrow at either end of the scroll bar to have the screen scroll in that direction. Drag the scroll box to a specific area in the scroll area to move directly to that location. Depending on the program, you may also see a tip showing where the cursor will be placed when you release the mouse button. 6 8- v.00 00 CCI Learning Solutions Inc.
Unit : Using Windows 7 Lesson 9 Exercise Click Start, and then Computer. If necessary, restore the Computer window. 3 Point the mouse pointer on the title bar of the Computer window. 4 Click and drag the window to a new position on the desktop. 5 Practice moving the window around to several different locations. 6 Move the mouse pointer to the right edge of the window and hold the mouse over the border until the pointer changes to a (horizontal double-headed arrow). 7 Drag the border to approximately one inch (.5 cm) from the right side of the screen. 8 Move the mouse pointer to the lower right corner of the window and drag the corner of the window until the window is approximately half the current size. 9 If necessary, resize the window smaller if you do not currently see the vertical and horizontal scroll bars in the window. Notice that the window was resized vertically and horizontally at the same time. 0 Click the arrow button at the bottom of the vertical scroll bar in the Folders list. Click the arrow button at the top of the scroll bar. Drag the scroll box up and down to view the information in the window. 3 Resize the window so that all of the contents are visible and the scroll bars disappear. It is not necessary to perform step 3 before closing the window; the step is provided here for you to practice sizing windows as well as to prepare for forthcoming exercises. 4 Click (Close) to close the Computer window. 8- v.00 00 CCI Learning Solutions Inc. 63
Lesson 9 Looking at the Windows Desktop Summary In this lesson you learned about the common elements shared by all windows, regardless of whether they are application windows or windows that open after activating a command. You should now be familiar with: how to start and exit Windows what the Windows desktop is how to use the Start button Review Questions how to use the taskbar how to manipulate windows. The best way to shut down the computer is simply to press the power switch on the computer case to turn it off. a. True b. False. Use the Task Manager to: a. End a program that has stopped responding b. Check the power usage on your computer c. Check which programs are running and their status d. Any of the above e. a or c 3. To see the programs installed on your system, which option from the Start button would you use? a. Documents b. All Programs c. Search d. List of Quick Start items 4. If you wanted to make the window smaller than the full screen, which button would you use? a. b. c. d. 5. What would you do to move the window? a. Click and drag the Control Icon to move to the new location b. Click and drag the Title bar to move to the new location c. Click anywhere in the window to move to the new location d. Click on the button 64 8- v.00 00 CCI Learning Solutions Inc.
Solid technical content, powerful graphics, and hands-on exercises in this textbook will provide you with the fundamental knowledge and skills for working with computers. This textbook will also prepare you for the Computing Fundamentals IC³ certification. What is IC³? IC³ the Internet and Computing Core Certification tests basic computer skills and understanding of the Internet to promote success in school, work and life. Developed by Certiport, the IC³ program enjoys worldwide recognition as the global standard for digital literacy. Computing Fundamentals using Windows 7 Recognizing Computers This unit introduces you to different types of computers, the basic parts of a computer, basic troubleshooting techniques, what to look for when buying a computer, and how software works. Using Microsoft Windows 7 This unit introduces the Windows operating system including the Desktop, installing and running applications, managing files and folders, and customizing settings. Key Applications using Microsoft Office 00 Common Elements This unit explains the features which are common to each Microsoft Office 00 application including starting and exiting either the Word, Excel, or PowerPoint application, modifying the program options, using the Ribbons, and getting help. Using Microsoft Word 00 The Microsoft Word unit shows you how to create documents, manipulate and format text, insert pictures and work with objects. Using Microsoft Excel 00 The Microsoft Excel unit introduces you to working with formulas, formatting a worksheet, using charts and printing your worksheets. Using Microsoft PowerPoint 00 The Microsoft PowerPoint unit enables you to create presentations, manage the slides, work with text and pictures and enhance your presentation with animations. Living Online using Windows 7 Getting Connected This unit sets out the background to the Internet, introduces the basics of networks, and provides an understanding of the fundamentals of e-mail and Microsoft Outlook 00. Using the Internet This unit explains Internet usage and includes common terminology, finding information using web browsers and search engines, minimizing the risk of viruses and using the Internet responsibly. IC 3 The Pathway to Success The Certification Pathway provides tools that allow you to benchmark skills while providing a personalized plan to help you learn the concepts and skills needed to meet the standard. When ready, you can validate your new found knowledge and skills by achieving certification, which provides a vital foundation for further advancement. IC 3 Global Standard 3 Current and Relevant This third installment of the regularly updated IC³ standard includes new content that addresses: Tools that emphasize communication and collaboration such as instant messaging, Web conferencing, social networking, wikis and blogs. The updated user interface and navigation reflected in Windows 7 and Microsoft Office 00. The common and practical uses for word processing, worksheet and presentation software. Courseware # 8- ISBN#: 978--5533-39-7 CCI Learning Solutions Inc www.ccilearning.com Internet safety protocols that guard against fraud and protect privacy.